Bridge

A bridge is a permanent restorative unit placed to fill a space where a tooth or teeth are missing. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders. The teeth on either side of the space are called abutment teeth and provide the support for the bridge. These teeth serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. The bridge is a single device that is made of gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and is cemented to the abutment teeth.

The benefits of a bridge are to restore your smile and ability to chew properly, maintain the shape of your face, distribute bite forces evenly, and prevent remaining teeth from drifting into vacant spaces.